question mark

noun

1

a

: something unknown, unknowable, or uncertain

b

: someone (such as an athlete) whose condition, talent, or potential for success is in doubt

2

: a mark ? used in writing and printing at the conclusion of a sentence to indicate a direct question

Examples of question mark in a Sentence

The team's pitching is a big question mark this season.

Recent Examples on the Web

However, there are still question marks on when these refunds will be distributed, and how much of them businesses will actually see. —Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 12 Apr. 2026

Yet amid all the positives in a four-game sweep of the Colorado Rockies, the Padres’ biggest question mark got all that more complicated on a gloomy Sunday afternoon at Petco Park. —Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Apr. 2026

Iranian preconditions But question marks hang over the ceasefire and the talks' ultimate outcome. —Azhar Sukri,kevin Breuninger,terri Cullen, CNBC, 11 Apr. 2026

The hypothetical of Jerry Jones striking deals in New York, Chicago and other major cities might prove true, but whether that covers all markets and whether other owners would do the same are all question marks. —Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 9 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1862, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for question mark

• disembark
• matriarch
• meadowlark
• patriarch
• watermark
• arc
• ark
• bark
• barque
• dark
• hark
• lark

Kids Definition

question mark

noun

: a punctuation mark ? used chiefly at the end of a sentence to indicate a direct question